Rolando Joselito Bautista

Rolando Joselito D. Bautista
Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Bautista during a ceremony at the Malacañan Palace on October 17, 2018. SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
Secretary of Social Welfare and Development
Incumbent
Assumed office October 17, 2018
President	Rodrigo Duterte
Preceded by	Virginia Orogo
Commanding General of the Philippine Army
In office October 5, 2017 – October 15, 2018
President	Rodrigo Duterte
Preceded by	Glorioso Miranda
Succeeded by	Macairog S. Alberto
Personal details
Born	October 15, 1962(1962-10-15) Naguilian, La Union, Philippines
Alma mater	Philippine Military Academy
Military service
Allegiance	Philippines
Service/branch	Philippines Army
Years of service	1985–2018
Rank	Lieutenant General
Unit	Commanding General of the Philippine Army Joint Task Force Marawi 1st Infantry Division Presidential Security Group 104th Infantry Brigade Joint Task Group Basilan Task Force General Santos 73rd Infantry Battalion Chief of Unified Command Staff; AFP Northern Luzon Command
Battles/wars	Moro conflict CPP-NPA-NDF rebellion Battle of Marawi

Rolando Joselito Delizo Bautista is a Filipino general and the current Secretary of Social Welfare and Development (Philippines). He is the Former Commander of the Philippine Army, and leading the Joint Task Force Marawi during the Battle of Marawi, and the Presidential Security Group.

Military Background

A graduate in the Philippine Military Academy, he is a member of the PMA “Sandiwa” class of 1985 and took various preparatory and specialization courses in intelligence and counter-terrorist operations. A well-known Mindanao Veteran, described as "well-rounded", "silent worker", an "achiever", and a "workaholic", He led the 73rd Infantry Battalion in 2005-2007, and the Unified Command Staff Chief of the AFP Northern Luzon Command, from February 2012 to October 2013,Task Force General Santos and Joint Task Group Basilan. During the Duterte Administration, he quickly rose through the ranks, as he led the Presidential Security Group, then transferred to the 1st Infantry Division in Mindanao for his counter-terrorism expertise, until he led the Battle of Marawi as overall ground commander of Joint Task Force Marawi, before he led the Philippine Army as Commanding General of the Philippine Army.

Awards in Military Service

• Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
• Martial Law Unit Citation
• People Power I Unit Citation
• People Power II Unit Citation
• Grand Commander, Philippine Legion of Honor
• Distinguished Service Medal
• Distinguished Service Star
• Gold Cross Medals
• Bronze Cross Medal
• Military Merit Medal (Philippines)
• Military Civic Action Medal
• Military Commendation Medal
• Gawad sa Kaunlaran
• Sagisag ng Ulirang Kawal
• Meritorious Achievement Medal
• Gawad sa Kapayapaan
• Long Service Medal
• Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal
• Luzon Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal
• Visayas Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal
• Mindanao Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal
• Combat Commander's Badge (Philippines)
• Scout Ranger Qualification Badge
• Special Forces Qualification Badge
• AFP Parachutist Badge

Controversy with Erwin Tulfo

His stint as Secretary of Social Welfare and Development came with a controversy involving him and journalist/broadcaster Erwin Tulfo, after the journalist, threatened him and gave tirades on-air on his radio show “Tutok Tulfo” on Radyo Pilipinas. Sec. Bautista was not available while having a meeting with an ambassador at the moment Tulfo's team was reaching him for a live, on-air interview regarding about the DSWD's plans on a recent signing of anti-poverty measure Magna Carta of the Poor.